Best Essential Oil Diffuser Reviews in 2018

Instead of scented candles, many people nowadays opt to use essential oils in order to make sure their home has a great smell. On top of the improved smell, some essential oils have other benefits and they almost always end up being cheaper than candles over time. Our favorite product in this review was the doTERRA Petal Diffuser.

Since they’re such a simple device, there are tons of different variations on the market and a lot of them really aren’t worth a second glance. If you’re looking to find the best essential oil diffuser around though, you’re in the right place. Let’s take a look at some, then help you figure out which is the best for your household.

Bestoverallpick!

Best overall: doTerra Petal Infuser

If you choose to plunk down the chunk of change, however, you can hardly do better than the doTERRA Petal Infuser, it’s simply the overall best of all those we took a look at.

Best Overall

doTerra Petal Infuser

Product Rating5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

The doTerra Petal Infuser is the best we’ve been able to find… anywhere. This compact infuser runs for four hours which makes it perfect for filling the room with the perfect scent during the day. It has a surprisingly wide spread despite its relatively diminutive size as well. Most people find that it can spread a scent through multiple rooms without much trouble as long as the doors are open. While it does contain plastic, the build-quality is fantastic and the plastic is extremely resistant to the more corrosive oils which you might want to utilize.

It also has some fancy LED lights which can either cycle through colors or be locked on your favorite, depending on your mood.

Of course, this immense potential comes with the caveat of a very high price for an essential oil diffuser, so it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth the investment.

Pros and Cons

330 cubic feet of dispersal

Very simple to use

LED lighting

High build-quality

Easy to clean

Expensive

Short run time at 4 hours

Best Value for Your Dollar

SmartMist Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

Product Rating4.5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

This vase shaped diffuser from SmartMist isn’t only smart looking, it also offers a pretty incredible price to value ratio. It comes complete with ambient LED lighting and takes up very little space since it’s dispersed vertically instead of horizontally. The mist output is more than generous, even on the lowest setting, and perfectly sufficient for all but the largest of rooms. On top of that, it’s incredibly easy to use and lasts for 4, 6, or 8 hours depending on which setting you opt to use.

Add in the fact that it’s pretty much silent and most people will find this is more than suited for their home or office.

If you’re looking to make sure that you get the most for your money, then you might want to opt for this diffuser. It’s priced just right to make sure you get the best of a bargain price and an impressive item.

Pros and Cons

Tall design makes for a limited footprint

Sleek, modern look

Ambient LED lighting

Runs for up to 8 hours

Silent running

Falls apart when knocked over

Performance is sometimes sketchy

Best Essential Oil Diffuser for Travel

Mini USB Essential Oil Diffuser

Product Rating4.5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

This tiny diffuser is perfect for those who want something on the go. Since it plugs into a USB slot you’ll find that you can run it in most modern vehicles, which means that you can receive a pleasant scent and the other benefits of your favorite oils while you’re on the go. It’s extremely simple to use as well, which makes up somewhat for the tiny capacity. Since it’s ultrasonic and seals well it’s also safe and clean to use while you’re in your vehicle.

Despite the small capacity, this diffuser can run for up to eight hours as well. Add in the low cost and you’re looking at something pretty special for the right person.

If you want a diffuser for your vehicle or just to keep in your bag while you’re on your next adventure then this is the right place to invest. It’s simple, easy to use, and will help you enjoy your scents everywhere you go.

Pros and Cons

Can be powered with any USB power source

Small size makes it perfect for small spaces

Considerable run time

Light changing LEDs

Easy to use

Small dispersal area

Refills can be messy

Best Aromatherapy Diffuser

BellaSentials Essential Oil Diffuser

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

When it comes to serious aromatherapy, you want a diffuser that’s going to run for a long time. Thankfully, the BellaSentials delivers in that category, with a run time of eight to twelve hours. On top of that, it has a sleek, wooden design which wouldn’t look out of place in most modern homes, with LED lighting around the sides which changes colors. It really is designed for overnight usage, allowing you to use your favorite scents while you drift off to sleep and in most cases it’ll still be running in the morning.

It does take up a considerable amount of horizontal room, however, so keep an eye out for that perfect spot if you’re going to pick it up.

If you’re a dedicated fan of aromatherapy, then you’ll want to take a closer look at this long running design. It’s simple to use and can make for restful nights without needing to have water and oil added in the middle.

Pros and Cons

Runs for up to 12 hours

Hard to tip design

Quiet running

Turns itself off at the end of run time

Easy to use

A little bit expensive

Takes up considerable room

Best Budget Diffuser

URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Diffuser

Product Rating5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

URPOWER has released this well-received essential oil diffuser which is cheaper than the competition but still packs a pretty good punch. While it may not boast the sheer power of some of our other favorites, and the design frankly isn’t all that attractive, it’s definitely good for those who want to get started while working with a tight budget.

It also comes with a water fill device which makes things even quicker and easier than most diffusers.

Simple to use and made for tight budgets, URPOWER’s essential oil diffuser may not be the best in town but it’s great for those who want to get their feet wet with some aromatherapy.

Pros and Cons

Cheaply priced

LED lighting

Runs for up to 6 hours

Auto shut off

Quiet-running

Fairly small area covered

Not for use with corrosive essential oils

What Type of Essential Oil Diffuser Do I Need?

There are a few different types of essential oil diffuser on the market, and while they all do pretty much the same thing there’s quite a bit of difference in the way they diffuse the oils.

Ultrasonic diffusers work through frequencies, dispersing a fine mist into the atmosphere without actually having to heat the oil itself. This makes them optimal for aromatherapy and receiving the benefits of the oils you’re using since the components of the essential oil are virtually certain to remain unchanged while the diffuser is in use.

Heat diffusers work by slightly heating the oils in order to cause them to evaporate. These are really only recommended for smells, since they’ll alter the delicate chemicals contained within the essential oils and can render medicinal properties inert.

Evaporative diffusers use a small fan to push out the essential oil/water mixture as a vapor. They’re great for portable devices in your vehicle, but they fall short due to one simple fact: heavier oils are going to disperse much slower than lighter oils which makes their usage unpredictable.

Cold air diffusers use a fan to blow the oil into a nebulizer. They’re rather efficient but they can’t handle heavier oils, and they’re noisy and hard to clean.

For most people, we strongly recommend an ultrasonic diffuser unless you need something small for your vehicle.

Deciding on Your Diffuser

Not all diffusers, even within the same category, are created equal. Indeed, there’s a ton of cheap products out there which are made to mimic the better quality diffusers on the market.

When you’re looking to finalize your decision, be sure of the following:

Material

The best diffusers are going to be made of ceramic or polypyrelene which ensures the longevity of your item. Essential oils can be corrosive to cheap plastics and that’ll lead to an early breakdown… and a huge mess.

Diffusing Area

You’ll want to go as high as possible with this, with one caveat: if the diffuser doesn’t have a way to reduce the output. It’s pretty rare that you’re going to encounter “too much” oil in the air but it can On the other hand, some cheaper diffusers simply won’t have enough power for larger rooms.

Water Capacity

The capacity of your diffuser is going to determine the amount of time it can run for before you need to reload. You can easily figure out how much oil you need once you figure out the amount of water contained within and the estimated operating time.

Size and Shape

Since it’s likely to be sitting on a desk or end table, most people will want to make sure that the diffuser they’ve decided on is able to fit and look good. Take a look at where you think you’ll want to be placing it to figure out which seems to be the best for you.

Extras

Some diffusers have some pretty attractive extras. Whether it’s LED lighting that changes colors or programming options these can make all the difference when it comes to attractiveness and ease of use.

Once you’ve got all of those qualities in order, you simply need to figure out which one will best suit your desired usage at the end of the day.

Using Your Essential Oils

The essential oils that go into a diffuser can actually have some benefits for your health over time. This is especially true if you’re working with an ultrasonic vaporizer which will mist the volatile components of the oil without causing any damage to them.

There are simply too many varieties of essential oil for us to list them all here, but some of the most common are also some of the most beneficial for the user.

Lavender oil, for instance, is reputed to have a strong calming effect. The delicate, flowery scent is certainly pleasing and many people find it to have anxiolytic qualities.

Peppermint oil is often used for headaches and has a cooling but refreshing effect. It also stimulates alertness, which makes it great for use by those who work at home.

Eucalyptus, on the other hand, is great for clearing a room of bad odors and can help with respiratory issues. This crisp smelling oil is one of the most common utilized in any type of aromatherapy.

Of course, you can mix and match with a wide variety of oils. One of the cool parts about a diffuser is that it often eliminates the negative effects that can occur with the repeated administration of some essential oils.

Using most diffusers is pretty simple: add water to capacity and then put in as much oil as directed. In some diffusers you can get away with more oil than recommended, but try not to make a habit of that.

After that, turn it on, lean back, and enjoy the smells and benefits of your new device.

Conclusion

Essential oil diffusers are on the fast track to replacing scented candles as the best way to keep your home smelling clean and crisp. There are a lot of them on the market, but we’ve made sure to only show you those which truly stand out from the pack.

They’re low in cost, high in utility, and one of the best ways to ensure that your home remains smelling wonderful with the simple press of a button.